Rotary switch with improved pivotally and reciprocable mounted thumbwheel actuator

ABSTRACT

The shift selector mechanism illustrated includes a thumbwheel switch arrangement for control of an electrically-actuated transmission having conventional R-N-D-L2-L1 gearshift selector ranges. The thumbwheel is mounted on a fixed pivot post by a slotted connection for both pivotal and reciprocal movement. A spring urges a follower on the thumbwheel into contact with an offset portion of a fixed arcuate guide slot for pivotal movement between &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;N&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;D&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; positions. Manual depression of the thumbwheel moves the follower out of the offset portion against the forces of the spring into contact with one of two spacedapart portions of the arcuate guide slot for pivotal movement to some one of the R-L2-L1 positions. Contacts mounted on an end portion of the thumbwheel align radially and circumferentially with appropriate terminals for actuation of conventional transmission solenoid valves. A detent arrangement assures retention of the thumbwheel in the selected shift position.

United States Patent Abel 1151 3,703,613 1451 Nov. 21, 1972 1541 ROTARYswrrcn WITH IMP OVED PIVOTALLY AND RECIPROCABLE MOUNTED THUMBWHEELACTUATOR l 72 Inventor: William E. Abel, Anderson, Ind.

[73] Assignee: General, Motors Detroit, Mich.

221 Filed: July 16,1971

211 Appl.No.: 163,343

Corporation,

[52] U.S. Cl. ..200/11 TW, 200/11 J, 200/17 R, 200/156, 200/11 C [51]Int. Cl. H01h 19/14, H01h 21/76 [58] Field of Search....200/4, 11 J, 11TW, 16 C166 BEND/156,17

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1971 Cunnane ..200/ 156 X2/1971 Wright ..200/11 TW X 4/ 1966 Elliott ..200/16 C 1/1967 Gabrielan..'..200/ll TW X 8/1971 Graddy ..200/16 C X 9/1971 Schink ..200/16CPrimary Examiner J. R. Scott Attorney-Warren E. Finken et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT The shift selector mechanism illustrated includes athumbwheel switch arrangement for control of an electrically-actuatedtransmission having conventional selector ranges. The thumbwheel ismounted on a fixed pivot post by a slotted connection for both pivotaland reciprocal movement. A spring urges a follower on the thumbwheelinto contact with an offset portion of a fixed arcuate guide slot forpivotal movement between N and D positions. Manual depression of thethumbwheel moves the follower out of the offset portion against theforces Of the spring into contact with one of two spaced-apart portionsof the arcuate guide slot for pivotal movement to some one of the R-L-L, positions. Contacts mounted on an end portion of the thumbwheelalign radially and circumferentially with appropriate terminals foractuation of conventional transmission solenoid valves. A detentarrangementassures retention Of the thumbwheel in the selected shiftposition.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnuv 21 m2 Aw wa 99% fiW/m ATTORNEYROTARY SWITCH WITH IMPROVED PIVOTALLY AND RECIPROCABLE MOUNTEDTHUMBWHEEL ACTUATOR I This invention relates generally to switches and,more particularly, to shift selector switches for controllingelectrically-actuated transmissions.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved instrumentpanel-mounted shift selector mechanism to replace conventional steeringcolumnmounted shift selectors and to eliminate the need for separateNeutral-start switches which prevent automatic transmission-equippedvehicles from being started in any selector position other than Park orNeutral.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shift selectormechanism wherein a springloaded thumbwheel is both pivotally andreciprocally mounted about a fixed pivot post for-pivotal movement alonginterconnected arcuate groove portions located at different radii withrespect to the fixed pivot post for accommodating radial andcircumferential alignment with respective battery, back-up light, andR-N-D- L L terminals.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shift selector switchincluding a thumbwheel mounted on a fixed pivot post by a slottedconnection for both pivotal and reciprocal movement thereon, a springfor urging a follower member formed on the thumbwheel into con tact withan offset portion of an arcuate guide slot for pivotal movementtherealong between Neutral and Drive drive ratio positions, with manualdepression of the thumbwheel being required to move the follower memberout of the offset portion against the forces of the spring into contactwith one of two separated portions of the arcuate guide slot adjacentthe respective ends of the offset. portion for pivotal movement torespective Reverse and Low drive ratio positions, a contact end portionon the thumbwheel for radial and circumferential alignment withappropriate terminals for actuation of conventional transmissionsolenoid valves, and a detent arrangement to reflect a feel for therespective shift positions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent when reference is made to the following description andaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a shift selector switch mechanism embodying theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the plane of thepaper;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken along the planes of lines2-2 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 4, and looking in the direction of thearrows; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane ofline 5-5 of FIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates aselectorswitch assembly including a housing 1 1 made of any suitablenonconductive material, such as plastic, and having a body portion 12and a cover 14 mounted on an instrument panel, represented generally at15, and secured thereto by mounting flanges 16. A thumbwheel 18, alsomade of a suitable plastic, is mounted in the housing 11, with anarcuate portion thereof extending through an opening 20 formed in thehousing body portion 12. An indicator projection 22 is formed on theexposed outer periphery of the thumbwheel 18. I

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the thumbwheel 18 is rotatable in the verticalplane such that the indicator projection 22 may be selectivelypositioned in any one of the conventional R-N-D-L,-L shift indicatingpositions. It maybe noted that, when in the NEUTRAL (N) and DRIVE (D)positions, the thumbwheel l8 and projection 22 extend farther out of thehousing 11 than is the case for the REVERSE (R) and LOW (L and (Lpositions.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, this is due to the thumbwheel 18 having acentral elongated opening 23 formed therein for mounting on a fixedpivot post 24 in the body portion 12 of the housing 11, the thumbwheel18 having the right-hand (FIG. 3) portion of the slotted opening 23positioned against the post 24 for the R, L,, and Li positions, and theleft-hand portion of the slotted opening 23 positioned against the post24, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for the N and D positions. A detent spring26 includes an intermediate arcuate section 27 seated on the pivot post24, with its ends 28 abutted against a pair of pins 29 secured to thethumbwheel 18.

A projection or follower member-30 (FIG. 4) is formed on a face 32 ofthe thumbwheel 18. The follower member 30 extends into an arcuate guideslot 34 formed in an adjacent side wall 35 of the housing body portion12. As may be noted in FIG. 2, the arcuate guide slot 34 includes arecess or stepped portion 36 spanning the are between the N and Dpositions. A projection 38 is formed on a side of the guide slot 34oppositely disposed from the center of the arcuate recess 3' A detentsection 40 (FIG. 2) including spaced, raised portions 41 (FIG. 5) ismounted in an arcuate groove 42 formed in the housing body portion 12adjacent the arcuate guide slot 34. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a cupmember 43 is slidably mounted in a pocket 44 formed in the face 32 ofthe thumbwheel 18 adjacent the arcuate groove 42. A spring 45 in thepocket 44 urges the cup member 43 into contact with the valley portionsor seats 46 formed intermediate the adjacent raised portions or crests41 of the detent section 40, the valley portions 46 being radiallyaligned with the respective shift indicating positions L Lz-DN-R, asillustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the thumbwheel 18 includes a contact endportion 47 extending rearwardly into the housing body 12. The contactend portion 47 includes contact plates 48, 50, and 52, generallyradially aligned with the fixed pivot post 24 and the indicatorprojection 22. Spaced contact bosses 49, 51, and 53 are formed on thecontact plates 48, 50, and 52, respectively. As may be noted in FIG. 4,each of the contact plates 48, 50, and 52 is urged downwardly from theend portion 47 by a spring 54 mounted in its respective pocket 56.

Referring once again to FIG. 2, it may be noted that NEUTRAL start-upterminals 58, back-up light terminals 60, an arcuate-shaped batteryterminal strip 62, a REVERSE solenoid terminal 64, a DRIVE solenoidterminal 66, and respective L and L LOW solenoid terminals 68 and 70 aremounted on a portion of the side wall 35 of the housing body portion 12.The terminals 64, 66, 68, and 70 are connected to the respectiveREVERSE, DRIVE, and LOW solenoid valves (not shown) in the transmissionof the associated vehicle. Comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be noted thatthe contact plate 48 is circumferentially aligned with the NEUTRALstart-up terminals 58; the contact plate 50 is circumferentially alignedwith the back-up light terminals 60; and that the third contact plate 52is wide enough for the bosses 53 thereon to circumferentially align withboth the battery terminal strip 62 and the circle of R, D, L and Lsolenoid terminals 64, 66, 68, and 70, respectively. The respective endsof the terminals 58-70 extend through the wall 35 of the housing body 12into an adjacent cavity 72 formed outside the wall 35. A pair ofoppositely disposed stop members 74 and 76 (FIG. 3) are formed in thehousing body portion 12 to limit the upward and downward swings,respectively, of the contact end portion 47 about the fixed pivot post24.

In operation, assume first a NEUTRAL position as illustrated in FIG. 2,i.e., with the contact plates 48, 50, and 52 being positioned as shown.It may be realized that in this position, the detent spring 26 urges thethumbwheel l8 outwardly such that the follower member 30 is located inthe comer of the recess 36 of the arcuate guide slot 34, while the cupmember 43 is urged into contact with the radially aligned valley portion46 of the detent section 40 by the spring 45. In the,

N position, the contact bosses 49 are in contact with the NEUTRALstart-up terminals 58, while one contact boss 53 is in contact with thebattery terminal strip 62, but the remaining two bosses 53 are not incontact with any of the terminals 64, 66, 68, or 70, which serve toactuate respective solenoid valves (not shown) in the transmission. Itis only in this position that the vehicle may be started since theterminals 58 complete the usual starting circuit.

In order to shift to the DRIVE or D position, the indicator projection22 is rotated upwardly in FIG. 2 until the follower member (FIG. 4) ismoved into the upper corner of the recess 36, at which time thespringloaded cup member 43 will have traveled over the adjacent crest 41into the next upper seat 46. With the indicator projection 22 in suchDRIVE (D) position, the contact bosses 53 are in contact with both theDRIVE solenoid terminal 66 and the battery terminal strip 62,

thus completing the circuit to the respective drive solenoid valve inthe transmission.

In order to shift to LOW, it is necessary that the indicator projection22 and the associated thumbwheel 18 be pushed inwardly, therebycompressing the detent spring 26 and bringing the right-hand (FIG. 3)edge of the slotted opening 23 into contact with the fixed pivot post24, while the follower member 30 (FIG. 4) is moved into the arcuateguide slot 34 above (FIG. 2) the projection formed on the opposite sidewall of the guide slot 34. The thumbwheel 18 is then rotated in theupper portion (FIG. 2) of the guide slot 34 to either the L or L,position as desired, the precise locations of same being indicated bythe spring-loaded cup member 43 dropping into the respective radiallyaligned seat 46 of the detent section 40. The contact bosses 53 are incontact with the battery terminal strip 62 and one of the L or L,terminals 68 or 70, respectively, and the circuit is thus completed tothe desired LOW solenoid valve (not shown) of the transmission.

In order to shift into REVERSE, from LOW, for example, the thumbwheel 18is rotated downwardly in FIG. 2. Once the follower member 30 on thethumbwheel l8 approaches the projection 38 of the arcuate groove.42, thedetent spring 26 will urge the thumbwheel l8 outwardly, moving thefollower member 30 into the recess 36. The thumbwheel 18 is then rotateddownwardly until the projection 38 is cleared by the follower member 30,then manually pushed inwardly, once again compressing the detent spring26, and 'the follower member 30 rotated downwardly in the guide slot 34to the R radial position of the thumbwheel 18, such position beingassured by the cup member 43 having been urged into the lowermost seat46 (FIGS. 2 and 5) of the detent section 40. As previously indicated,this brings the radially outer contact bosses 53 into contact with theREVERSE solenoid terminal 64, while the radially inner contact boss 53remains in contact with the batteryterminal strip 62, thus completingthe circuit to the appropriate solenoid valve (not shown) of thetransmission.

As may be noted in FIG. 2, with the thumbwheel 18 in the position justdescribed, the contact bosses 51 serve to span the back-up lightterminals 60, thus completing the back-up light circuit to providelights for REVERSE operation. A review of FIG. 2 illustrates thatthroughout any movement of the contact bosses 53 across the R-N-Dterminals, contact with the adjacent terminal will have been made by theleading contact boss 53 of the contact plate 52 before the trailingcontact boss 53 thereof leaves the previously selected terminal, thusassuring that the transmission will not shift to NEUTRAL, such as occursbetween the DRIVE and REVERSE terminals 66 and 64, respectively, due tothe space therebetween.

It should be apparent that the invention provides a compact and highlyefficient instrument panelmounted shift selector switch mechanismwherein engine start-up is possible only while a thumbwheel indicator isin Neutral, with the Drive position being a short pivotal movement awayfrom the Neutral posi tion, and with manual depression of the thumbwheelfrom the Neutral position being required before pivotal movement toReverse drive range is possible and manual depression of the thumbwheelfrom the Drive position being required before pivotal movement to eitherof two Low drive ranges is possible.

' While but one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, other modifications thereof are possible.

I claim:

1. A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing having a fixedpivot formed therein, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mountedabout said pivot in said housing for manual movement to selected driveratio positions, arcuate guide means formed on said housing, a followermember formed on said thumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guidemeans, spring means for urging said follower member of said thumbwheelradially outwardly from said pivot with respect to said arcuate guidemeans, and circuit means formed on said thumbwheel and on said housingand including start-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, saidstart-up and drive range circuits tioned in said radial outward positionand pivoted to predetermined circumferential locations therealong, I

said reverse drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel ismanually depressed against the force of saidspring means to move saidfollower member radially inwardly from said-start-up position and thento pivot said follower member in one direction with respect to saidarcuate guide means to a first predetermined circumferential location.therealong, and said low drive ratio circuit being completed when saidthumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring meansto move said follower member radially inwardly from said drive rangeposition and then to pivot said follower member in the oppositedirection with respect to said arcuate guide means to a secondpredetermined circumferential location therealong.

2. A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheelpivotally and reciprocally mounted in said housing for manual movementto selected drive ratio positions, female guide means formed on saidhousing, said female guide means including relative inner and outerarcuate portions, male guide means formed on said thumbwheel, springmeans for urging said male guide means of said thumbwheel to said outerarcuate portion of said female guide means, a plurality of contactsformed in predetermined locations on said thumbwheel, start-up, reverse,low and drive ratio terminals formed in predetermined locations on saidhousing for forming respective circuits upon selective cooperation withsaid plurality of contacts, said start-up and drive circuits beingcompleted when said male guide means is positioned in said outer arcuateportion of said female guide means and pivoted therealong, said reverseand low ratio circuits, respectively, being completed when saidthumbwheel is manually depressed against the force of said spring meansto move said male guide means into said inner arcuate portion of saidfemale guide means and pivoted in opposite directions therealong.

3. The shift selector switch mechanism described in 'claim 2, and detentmeans operatively connected being radially aligned with said respectivestart-up,

drive, reverse, and low ratio positions of said thumbwheel with respectto said housing.

5. A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheelincluding connector means for pivotal and reciprocal mounting in saidhousing, a portion of said thumbwheel extending outwardly through saidhousing, an indicator formed on said extended portion of said thumbwheelfor manual depression and pivotal movement of said thumbwheel toselected drive ratio positions, a radial extension formed on saidthumbwheel, arcuate slot means formed in said housing and including afirst divided portion at one radius and a second intermediate portion ata second radius bridging said divided portion, a follower formed on saidthumbwheel for extension into said arcuate slot means, spring means forurging said thumbwheel radially outwardly so as to position saidfollower in said second intermediate portion, a plurality of contactsformed on said radial extension of said thumbwheel, and a plurality ofterminals formed on said housing for radial and circumferentialalignment with respective contacts upon selective radial and rotarymovement of said thumbwheel for selectively completing start-up, drive,

reverse and low ratio circuits, said start-up and drive ratio circuitsbeing completed when said follower is positioned in the respective endsof said second intermediate portion, said reverse ratio circuit beingcompleted when said follower is manually depressed against the force ofsaid spring means into the portion of said first divided portion of saidarcuate slot means adjacent said start-up position and pivoted therein,and said low ratio circuit being completed when said follower ismanually depressed against the force of said spring means into theportion of said first divided portion adjacent said drive position andpivoted therein.

'6, A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a fixedpivot post secured in said housing, an

opening formed in said housing, a thumbwheel having a thumbwheel, anarcuate slot formed in said housing, an

arcuate recess formed along an intermediate portion of said arcuate slotoutwardly from said pivot post, a projection formed in said arcuate slotopposite an intermediate portion of said arcuate recess interruptingsaid arcuate slot, a follower member 'formed on said thumbwheel forextension into either of said arcuate recess or arcuate slot, a pair ofretainers formed on said thumbwheel, a spring mounted between said fixedpivot post and said pair of retainers for urging said thumbwheelradially outwardly so as to position said follower member in saidarcuate recess, a plurality of terminals formed on said housing, aplurality of contacts formed on said radial extension of said thumbwheelfor selectively contacting said respective terminals to completestart-up, drive, low and reverse ratio circuits, said start-up and driveratio circuits being completed when said follower member is positionedin the respective ends of said arcuate recess, said reverse ratiocircuit being completed when said follower member is manually depressedagainst the force of said spring into the portion of said interruptedarcuateslot adjacent said start-up position and pivoted therein, andsaid low ratio circuit being completed when said follower member ismanually depressed against the force of said spring into the portion ofsaid interrupted arcuate slot adjacent said drive position and pivotedtherein, a spring-loaded cup member mounted on said thumbwheel, and aplurality of arcuately-aligned alternately located peaks andflat-bottomed valleys formed on said housing adjacent said cupmember,said flat-bottomed valleys being radially aligned with said respectivestart-up, drive, reverse, and low ratio positions of said thumbwheel.

1. A shift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing having a fixedpivot formed therein, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mountedabout said pivot in said housing for manual movement to selected driveratio positions, arcuate guide means formed on said housing, a followermember formed on said thumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guidemeans, spring means for urging said follower member of said thumbwheelradially outwardly from said pivot with respect to said arcuate guidemeans, and circuit means formed on said thumbwheel and on said housingand including start-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, saidstart-up and drive range circuits being completed when said followermember is positioned in said radial outward position and pivoted topredetermined circumferential locations therealong, said reverse driveratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressedagainst the force of said spring means to move said follower memberradially inwardly from said start-up position and then to pivot saidfollower member in one direction with respect to said arcuate guidemeans to a first predetermined circumferential location therealong, andsaid low drive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel ismanually depressed against the force of said spring means to move saidfollower member radially inwardly from said drive range position andthen to pivot said follower member in the opposite direction withrespect to said arcuate guide means to a second predeterminedcircumferential location therealong.
 1. A shift selector switchmechanism comprising a housing having a fixed pivot formed therein, athumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted about said pivot in saidhousing for manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, arcuateguide means formed on said housing, a follower member formed on saidthumbwheel for cooperation with said arcuate guide means, spring meansfor urging said follower member of said thumbwheel radially outwardlyfrom said pivot with respect to said arcuate guide means, and circuitmeans formed on said thumbwheel and on said housing and includingstart-up, reverse, low and drive range circuitry, said start-up anddrive range circuits being completed when said follower member ispositioned in said radial outward position and pivoted to predeterminedcircumferential locations therealong, said reverse drive ratio circuitbeing completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressed against theforce of said spring means to move said follower member radiallyinwardly from said start-up position and then to pivot said followermember in one direction with respect to said arcuate guide means to afirst predetermined circumferential location therealong, and said lowdrive ratio circuit being completed when said thumbwheel is manuallydepressed against the force of said spring means to move said followermember radially inwardly from said drive range position and then topivot said follower member in the opposite direction with respect tosaid arcuate guide means to a second predetermined circumferentiallocation therealong.
 2. A shift selector switch mechanism comprising ahousing, a thumbwheel pivotally and reciprocally mounted in said housingfor manual movement to selected drive ratio positions, female guidemeans formed on said housing, said female guide means including relativeinner and outer arcuate portions, male guide means formed on saidthumbwheel, spring means for urging said male guide means of saidthumbwheel to said outer arcuate portion of said female guide means, aplurality of contacts formed in predetermined locations on saidthumbwheel, start-up, reverse, low and drive ratio terminals formed inpredetermined locations on said housing for forming respective circuitsupon selective cooperation with said plurality of contacts, saidstart-up and drive circuits being completed when said male guide meansis positioned in said outer arcuate portion of said female guide meansand pivoted therealong, said reverse and low ratio circuits,respectively, being completed when said thumbwheel is manually depressedagainst the force of said spring means to move said male guide meansinto said inner arcuate portion of said female guide means and pivotedin opposite directions therealong.
 3. The shift selector switchmechanism described in claim 2, and detent means operatively connectedbetween said thumbwheel and said housing for holding said thumbwheel ineach of said start-up, drive, reverse, and low ratio positions of saidthumbwheel with respect to said housing.
 4. The shift selector switchmechanism described in claim 3, wherein said detent means includes aspring-loaded extension member mounted on said thumbwheel, and aplurality of peaks and valleys formed on said housing andcircumferentially aligned with the arcuate path followed by saidextension member as it travels with said thumbwheel, said valleys beingradially aligned with said respective start-up, drive, reverse, and lowratio positions of said thumbwheel with respect to said housing.
 5. Ashift selector switch mechanism comprising a housing, a thumbwheelincluding connector means for pivotal and reciprocal mounting in saidhousing, a portion of said thumbwheel extending outwardly through saidhousing, an indicator formed on said extended portion of said thumbwheelfor manual depression and pivotal movement of said thumbwheel toselected drive ratio positions, a radial extension formed on saidthumbwheel, arcuate slot means formed in said housing and including afirst divided portion at one radius and a second intermediate portion ata second radius bridging said divided portion, a follower formed on saidthumbwheel for extension into said arcuate slot means, spring means forurging said thumbwheel radially outwardly so as to position saidfollower in said second intermediate portion, a plurality of contactsformed on said radial extension of said thumbwheel, and a plurality ofterminals formed on said housing for radial and circumferentialalignment with respective contacts upon selective radial and rotarymovement of said thumbwheel for selectively completing start-up, drive,reverse and low ratio circuits, said start-up and drive ratio circuitsbeing completed when said follower is positioned in the respective endsof said second intermediate portion, said reverse ratio circuit beingcompleted when said follower is manually depressed against the force ofsaid spring means into the portion of said first divided portion of saidarcuate slot means adjacent said start-up position and pivoted therein,and said low ratio circuit being completed when said follower ismanually depressed against the force of said spring means into theportion of said first divided portion adjacent said drive position andpivoted therein.